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Post by Luke Skywalker on Aug 16, 2016 12:58:50 GMT -5
I saw the 48" TFA trooper last year at Walmart with my 42" son and said. "Hey you could fit into that." Immediately I knew what he was going to be for Halloween this year. During that time another father beat me to the punch and posted his build on YouTube. There's also a thread dedicated to the conversion on whitearmor.net. We got a small sale today and since they're starting to thin out, we jumped on it. My son is only 42" as of this post so we can easily get two years, maybe even three out of it. That helps justify the cost a bit. Plus I can probably sell it for a profit down the road when he outgrows it. Here's the before.......    |
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Post by ARKM on Aug 16, 2016 14:47:13 GMT -5
Cool project. Your son will love it.
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Post by ZahcStarKiller on Aug 16, 2016 15:12:55 GMT -5
RAD DUDE! I can't wait to see the finished product!
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Post by Luke Skywalker on Aug 16, 2016 19:48:01 GMT -5
Most kids in build threads aren't fitting into the helmet. My son is just barely squeezing in. Two months from now he might not. It'd be cool if he could though. Plus it would save me some cash.
It's fully disassembled and most of the interior ribs have been cut out of the helmet. There's going to be a ton of work cleaning out the rib supports in all of the pieces. I see a full day or two of dremeling.
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Post by shadycanuck on Aug 18, 2016 8:28:22 GMT -5
Most kids in build threads aren't fitting into the helmet. My son is just barely squeezing in. Two months from now he might not. It'd be cool if he could though. Plus it would save me some cash. It's fully disassembled and most of the interior ribs have been cut out of the helmet. There's going to be a ton of work cleaning out the rib supports in all of the pieces. I see a full day or two of dremeling. Hey Luke - I came across this post on the RPF Junkyard for a 3D kids helmet for $50 www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=265328Given the small size of the statue's helmet, this may buy you a few more years of use from this armor build. |
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Post by Luke Skywalker on Aug 18, 2016 11:28:18 GMT -5
Thanks man. Yeah I'm going to go that route for next year. Right now he fits it like a glove. He won't wear it a lot anyway so for this year we're good. My son is on the small side. This year the armor will be a bit too big. Next year will fit perfect and the year after he should still pull it off. He's ready to wear it for three years so that helps make the price easier to swallow.
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Post by Obi-Shane on Aug 19, 2016 3:48:35 GMT -5
Thanks man. Yeah I'm going to go that route for next year. Right now he fits it like a glove. He won't wear it a lot anyway so for this year we're good. My son is on the small side. This year the armor will be a bit too big. Next year will fit perfect and the year after he should still pull it off. He's ready to wear it for three years so that helps make the price easier to swallow. Where did you find it? They are sold out everywhere I have looked. |
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Post by Solo's Hold on Aug 19, 2016 5:54:09 GMT -5
YES!!!!!!!!
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Post by Luke Skywalker on Aug 19, 2016 6:20:47 GMT -5
Toys R Us in CT had a few left. They price matched with an online price for $80. I just missed Walmart a few days prior for $64. I figured I'd better grab it though because I needed to start working on it to have it done be Halloween. It wasn't worth losing it over $16. I'll have $100 into the whole suit by the time I'm done, which spread over three years is not bad for $33/yr.
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Post by defcon4 on Aug 19, 2016 10:22:41 GMT -5
This is Awesome Luke.
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Post by Luke Skywalker on Aug 19, 2016 11:33:39 GMT -5
My big challenge will be to fit him in it this year without taking too much off that he won't fit in it the next two years. I think the midriff overlap is the place to lose the 6" needed. The chest piece will most likely come down and sit on the belt. The legs will most likely be an issue too. There will be some trimming for sure.
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Post by Luke Skywalker on Aug 27, 2016 17:30:30 GMT -5
Things are progressing much faster than I thought. Right now I've got three days invested with about 6 hour/day. Now I'm down to just a bit more comfort trimming inside then trimming things down so it fits his small frame. I'd guess one more 8 hour day and we're done. Once it's all trimmed up its just velcro hinges to hold it all together. Then on to my anovos armor.  |
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Post by Solo's Hold on Aug 27, 2016 20:14:29 GMT -5
Oh I am not showing Faith this, she would flip out and its way to close to halloween to try to pull this off.
EPIC Luke, totally epic. BEST DAD IN THE WORLD AWARD GOES TO YOU!!!
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Post by Luke Skywalker on Aug 27, 2016 20:47:27 GMT -5
Thanks man. Yes I've already been given that award by my son.  I'm surprised this pic looks so good. The armor is just draped on him. There's not strapping or suspenders yet. And it still needs to be trimmed up a bit. If he was 3-4 inches taller it would fit like a glove. |
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Post by Solo's Hold on Aug 27, 2016 20:50:33 GMT -5
that is good, can rock it next year aswell.
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Post by Luke Skywalker on Aug 28, 2016 11:46:43 GMT -5
I'm looking for some advice. Most of the armor we can make fit this year. I can lower the outer ridges on the upper calves a bit so they don't hit the thigh plates. The big problem is the chest plate and shoulder bells. Our version of a Christmas story is "I can move my arms!!!" I'm really hoping to get 2-3 yrs out of this and don't want to over trim. What do you guys think would look better? Trim the chest inward near the shoulder so it looks more like an OT TK with a tank top look or do I trim the should bells where they meet the chest straps. The shoulder area must be trimmed. It's just a matter of what would look better this year and of course next year when his shoulders are wider. Next year should be almost a perfect fit without the need to trim anything. The armor is built for a 48" height. Year three with trimming he will have wider gaps between the shoulder bells and chest straps if I trim this year. Next question. Do you think it really matters how much or where I trim. Is he just going to look awesome no matter what I do? |
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Post by TrypWyr on Aug 29, 2016 16:37:28 GMT -5
Amazing work, Luke!
Totally off topic but I just wanted to say that I love your living room, especially the ceiling.
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Post by Luke Skywalker on Aug 29, 2016 20:12:32 GMT -5
Thanks man. It's a work in progress. It's a 1940's fishing cabin we bout 7 yrs ago and have been slowly renovating ourselves ever since. The floors I put down are 10" wide lard line and that front room is knotty pine cathedral with 5' white wainscoting. It looks out at the lake.
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Post by ZahcStarKiller on Aug 29, 2016 22:08:25 GMT -5
Thanks man. It's a work in progress. It's a 1940's fishing cabin we bout 7 hrs ago and have been slowly renovating ourselves ever since. The floors I put down are 10" wide lard line and that front room is knotty pine cathedral with 5' white wainscoting. It looks out at the lake. Gosh I am impressed. Making that costume out of a toy is one thing, but renovating that cabin in 7hrs!!? That's a remarkable feat!  |
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Post by Luke Skywalker on Aug 29, 2016 22:15:08 GMT -5
Yes that would be a feat. Sadly it's been 7 yrs.
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Post by Luke Skywalker on Oct 6, 2016 19:24:58 GMT -5
Well after approximately 40 hours the armor is done. I'm going to install the audio card that came with it so he can activate it at our party. But other than that the armor is done. My wife's Rey is done as well although I might try to darken the tabbards with a tea stain tomorrow. FOTK 48" Battle Buddy toy from Toys R Us Rubies child TOFK helmet Loads of industrial strength Velcro Leftover black elastic from my Anovos kit Speaker and sound card that came with the Battle Buddy that has blaster sounds, and a few trooper phrases FOTK sneakers from Walmart. Not my first choice but my son loves them. They do look kind of cool and fit in, although far from screen accurate. Rey Tan Capri pants Tan off white t-shirt Cotton gauze bandage for arm wraps with a tea stain Cotton gauze fabric for the tabbards PO-Zu boots from Portugal (the actual boots used in the movie). Boots were discontinued prior to TFA but they just made a run this month for the cosplay peeps. Leather Belt using a 3" leather belt blank Leather wrist cuff using some scrap 4 0z leather I had Rear pouch found on eBay complete with Alice clip I may build a staff next year. My other son is Finn Faux leather jacket on eBay that looks really nice Black pants Black t shirt Nerf blaster Canvas shoes     |
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Post by Solo's Hold on Oct 6, 2016 19:26:24 GMT -5
SAWEEETTTTTTTTT!!!!!
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Post by naigon on Oct 7, 2016 18:24:46 GMT -5
This is cool! You guys are going to be amazing this year.
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